The first page was a certificate of incorporation from 1980.

The company name at the top was written in bold, typewriter font: *King and Vance Enterprises.*

I stared at the name.

Vance was my maiden name.

I turned the page.

It was a partnership agreement between Marcus King and Arthur Vance.

Marcus King was Elias’s grandfather.

My father had never told me he worked with the King family.

He had always told me he was a simple accountant for a small firm in New Jersey.

My fingers trembled as I turned to the next document.

It was a legal brief, dated three years later.

The terms were harsh.

It described a hostile takeover, a forced sale of shares at a fraction of their value.

There was a letter attached to the back of the agreement.

The stationery bore the original King logo.

The letter was signed by Marcus King.

“Arthur,” the letter read. “If you do not sign the transfer agreement by Friday, the allegations regarding the audit will be made public.”

“You will lose your license, your home, and your family.”